New Vaper’s Cough?

In a recent survey, it was found that 57% of all people who vape had experienced an issue with coughing when they first started. 

It seemed to make no difference whether they were former smokers who had decided to give vaping a go, or if they were current smoker, nor how much they smoked. The numbers (of coughers in the survey) stayed relatively close.

Thankfully, the same survey also showed that this number dropped very quickly and that after only 10 weeks 93% of that original 57& reported that they were no longer having any issues with coughing.

Why do so many new vapers cough? 

Why does it go away so quickly? 

The answer to both of these questions is exactly the same. 

We really don't know - but there are several theories.

Vaping technique

One widely held theory is that it is because when people smoke a tobacco cigarette the majority of them inhale directly to their lungs, while most new vapers tend to mouth hit and then to inhale in two steps.

As an impromptu and completely unscientific experiment I had several of my smoking friends try doing a mouth hit with a tobacco cigarette. The surprising thing was that most of them experienced the same cough that new vapers experience. So it cant be a vape thing, it must be a technique, right?

Lack of Anaesthetics

Many of the 9,600 chemicals that are found in cigarettes are what are termed 'anaesthetics' and 'antitussives'. That is chemicals specifically designed and added in order to make the tobacco smoke less harsh and irritating. Yes, they really do do that!

Being made up of less than a handful of ingredients - this isn't true of eCigarette vapour. 

Dehydration

Both Propylene Glycol and Vegetable Glycerine attract water. It is felt by many that because of this it is possible that they may dehydrate the throat and lungs thus causing a new vaper to cough. And this cough goes away once their bodies have adapted to the new sensation of vaping. It is also thought that they subconsciously compensate by drinking more fluid when vaping.

We really don't know what causes the 'beginners cough' but what is more important, at least in my in mind, is that we do know that in the vast majority of cases the cough does go away. 

Considering the known dangers and health effects of smoking; a minor cough is a small price to pay for the enjoyment of vaping.

You may also enjoy reading one of our historic blog posts which discusses the return to proper function of the lungs and why a vaper might temporarily begin to cough after making the transition